She listened to them argue back and forth and rolled her eyes as she continued cleaning the dishes. She loved Kellen and Courtney, but they were awful together; they were too stubborn and worried about being right. Their 'love' was more of a competition between them. Courtney always tried to make Etta take her side even though she always refused. Etta would listen to her plead her case and then try to find some middle ground to patch her argument with Kellen until their next one. The two of them constantly bickered whether she was FaceTiming Courtney or hanging out in person; she even texted Etta about their fights.
Etta would play the helpful ear and try to acknowledge both sides even when she was siding with Kellen so much more than Courtney. Courtney was usually selfish - how dare Kellen not take her to her favorite Indian restaurant even though she promised him last time she would go to the seafood restaurant he never gets to go to; she was tired and didn't want to clean; why couldn't he just do it this time (this one was weekly), does he really have to be playing his video games right now when he could be reading like I am. They were stupid, mindless arguments that should have been solved with compromise, but Courtney could never be the one who gave in. It was always 'if Kellen loved her like he said he did, he'd do it for her,' and he always gave in, trying to prove time and time again that he loved Courtney.
However, this argument was getting bad, and she knew one of them would leave tonight. It had happened a couple of times before one of them would leave, go for a drive, and come back to finish the argument. She stayed in the kitchen, changing the water to clean the counters and appliances. I might as well finish this before returning to my empty apartment; at least Kellen can enjoy a night with less cleaning. Movie night is going to be over now. She struggled to overcome a rough breakup and looked forward to a relaxing night with her friends. She had even helped them clean their house so they could binge on the sofa all weekend after she made all their favorite snacks.
"Then why don't you just run away with Etta, like you've been threatening to do for years!" Courtney screamed, and Etta could hear things being thrown onto the bed as one of them had started packing.
"I fucking might."
She couldn't help but chuckle at the two of them. Ridiculous. She hated the fact that she imagined it and how tempting it all sounded. Kellen would show up on her doorstep, clothes clinging to his muscles after being drenched in the rain, carrying a suitcase and begging her to run away with him to South Carolina so they could start a life together. She'd hesitate momentarily (like a good friend should) before giving in and driving to the coast with him, where they would sit on the beach reading books on weekends, and she'd do puzzles. At the same time, he played his video games before bed, they'd cuddle as they slept, and on workdays, since they both worked from home, they would sit in their office together silently typing away, stealing looks when they thought the other wasn't paying attention. She never let it be more than a stupid fantasy, though.
Courtney started the whole thing years ago when she realized Etta was usually on Kellen's side and failing to stay neutral. Courtney talked about how much they had in common and always said they would have ended up together if she hadn't come first. Kellen and Etta just laughed and joked about running away to the coast instead of dealing with all this drama here in cold Main. They were both introverted, quiet people who just wanted to sit quietly in each other's company instead of prattle on about every thought that crossed their minds. While they sat quietly in each other's company, Courtney chatted about her day and what new things she had seen on the internet that she wanted. At the same time, Kellen and Etta made faces behind her back, smirking at each other when they found her particularly foolish. When Courtney saw them making fun of her, she would throw something at them while they laughed.
"Why do we even bother trying Kellen?" This made Etta hold her breath. She had never heard them argue like this before. She couldn't hear Kellen's response, but it set Courtney off. "You know what, Kellen, you're a piece of shit. I wish I'd never married you. Why don't you run to your girlfriend? I'm sure she'll take your side and tell you how wrong I am. I'm sure you'd be happier with her." Etta ignored the sting she felt at her friend's words. Courtney had never said them maliciously before, maybe a little begrudgingly at times, but never with such venom. She started the stupid joke.
"I know I would be too." Kellen rumbles. She heard the front door slam shut and held her breath, trying to listen to who was left in the house. She whirled around to face Kellen, seeing the determined look on his face. "Sorry you had to hear us fight again."
Etta shrugs and returns to wiping the counters--just another Friday night. "You're fine. I'll get out of your way in a bit. I just want to finish this." She tried to brush him off but was surprised he'd moved closer. Kellen grabbed her face and smashed his lips against hers, taking advantage of her shock to swipe his tongue in her mouth. Etta clung to his arms to steady herself as he explored her in a way that made her toes curl. He pulled away from her panting and met her eyes. She stared at him briefly, still in shock, before smacking him.
Kellen's eyes darkened as he cupped her chin. She tried to smack him again, feeling like she couldn't betray her friend no matter how amazing the kiss was. He grabbed her wrist and crushed his lips to hers with a growl. Etta tried to push at his chest as he backed her into the counter, trapping her against him. She lost her resolve as he pressed himself into her. She could feel his erection pressing into her stomach. He nipped her lower lip, and it sent shock waves to her core, and she felt guilty for getting wet.
"Kel-"
He cut her off by pressing his lips to hers. His rough hands reached the end of her shirt, and Etta knew she should stop him but couldn't bring herself to push him away as his hands brushed over her stomach, her back, up her ribs, pulling her impossibly closer against him.
"Kellen, we shouldn't- we can't." She tried to push him away, but he didn't budge, and she could feel his chest muscles through his shirt. She wanted to explore him more but refused, settling for not removing her hands like she knew she should. Kellen cupped her face, brushing his thumb over her lips and pressing his forehead against hers. He started with small pecks on her cheek, on the corner of her mouth, right on her lips, where he lingered with their breath mingling, trying to entice her into wanting him back.
She gave in with a sigh, letting him crush his lips to hers and coaxing her mouth open so she could taste his minty breath. His hands continued up her shirt, stopping just below her breasts, skimming the underside of her bra. She pulled him closer, wrapping her arms around his neck, tangling her fingers in his hair, clawing at his shoulders, holding herself as close to him as possible. He pulled her shirt over her head, and then he tugged off his own, needing to feel her warmth against him. He locked his lips to hers again as his fingers skimmed up her back to unlatch her bra.
She pulled away with a whimper, feeling mixed up about being so exposed. What about Courtney? This was beyond the heat of the moment now; there was no way to explain this away or deny anything. There was no way she could deny how much she wanted him, and there was no way she'd be able to see him across the room and pretend to herself she only liked him as a friend anymore. No more hidden longing glances when he was absorbed in his game and Courtney scrolled through social media--no more shared laughs behind Courtney's back--no going back from this.
